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Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says
The US population is rapidly diversifying, with cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at the forefront, according to a new study.
WalletHub released its 2025 ranking of the nation's Most Diverse Cities on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Three Maryland communities topped the list of 501 locations, which were evaluated based on socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious diversity.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2 percent of Americans identified as multiracial in 2020, a sharp increase from just 2.9 percent in 2010.
"The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many …
Mother Of The Notorious B.I.G., Voletta Wallace, Dies At 78
Voletta Wallace, the devoted mother of rap legend The Notorious B.I.G., died at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Feb. 21, according to Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac. She was 78.
Wallace had been receiving hospice care and passed away from natural causes, Yanac told Daily Voice.
Her family confirmed her passing in an emotional Instagram post, calling her their “matriarch” and the woman who dedicated her life to preserving the legacy of her son, born Christopher Wallace.
🕊️ "It is with immense sadness that we share this news with you, and ask that you give our f…
Girl, 11, Dies By Suicide After School Bullies Say ICE Will Deport Her Family: Reports
An 11-year-old Texas girl has died by suicide after classmates bullied her for being Hispanic and threatened to have ICE agents deport her family, according to reports.
Jocelynn Rojo Carranza of Gainesville, TX, died on Saturday, Feb. 8, five days after she was rushed to a hospital, Univision 23 reported. She was a student at Gainesville Intermediate School, about an hour north of Dallas.
Her mother Marbella Carranza told Univision that students repeatedly taunted her daughter, saying her family would be deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"I waited a whole week for a mi…
Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment
Several Northeast states are among the most educated in the US, excelling in school quality, college attainment, and overall academic achievement, a new study said.
Massachusetts was ranked as the country's most-educated state, according to a WalletHub study released on Monday, Feb. 10. Maryland was second, followed by Vermont, Colorado, and Connecticut in the top five.
The study analyzed all 50 states using 18 factors, including educational attainment, quality, and achievement gaps.
"There's a strong correlation between being more educated and receiving higher compensation," said Wal…
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal
Students could soon go from scrolling to schooling.
A bold initiative unveiled by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, Jan. 22, would restrict smartphone use in all K-12 schools during the entire school day, including lunch time.
The proposal, introduced as part of the governor’s 2026 Executive Budget, aims to prioritize student learning and mental health, Hochul’s office said.
“From parents and teachers, to social justice and law enforcement leaders, New Yorkers agree that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said.
Under the…
Support Swells For Naval Officer, Ex-Wrestler From LI Facing 'Toughest Fight Of His Life'
A Long Island father and naval officer in the fight of his life is finding an outpouring of support from the community.
Chris Araoz, of Massapequa, has been described as many things to those who know him best: a devoted father, a loving husband, a brave naval officer, and a fierce competitor on the wrestling mat at Columbia University.
Now, his family and friends are rallying around him as he faces "the toughest fight of his life," a rare and terminal brain cancer diagnosis.
“In this unimaginable moment, Chris’s wife, family, and friends have rallied around him, offering love, strength, a…
It’s A Boy! Stony Brook University Hospital Welcomes First Baby Of 2025
Samantha and Matthew Bruckenthal of East Northport welcomed their first child, Charlie, just hours into the new year at Stony Brook University Hospital, the hospital announced on Monday, Jan. 1.
Charlie, weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, was born at 3:16 a.m. and is the first baby of 2025 for the hospital. His delivery was assisted by Leah Kaufman, MD, Eliza Hammes, RN, and Vanessa Boser, RN, according to the release.
The newborn is already making waves in his family as the grandson of Patricia Bruckenthal, the Dean of the School of Nursing at Stony Brook University.
Stony Brook University Hosp…
'Highly-Regarded' Suffolk Co. Coach, Mentor Honored Following Death In Rollover Crash
The Long Island athletic community is mourning the loss of a beloved high school basketball coach following his untimely death.
Darrell Sumpter, a dedicated assistant varsity basketball coach at William Floyd High School, died Friday, Dec. 13, in a wreck on Sunrise Highway in Shirley, as Daily Voice reported. He was 51.
The William Floyd School District confirmed his passing in a letter to parents the following day.
“Mr. Sumpter was a proud William Floyd graduate, a longtime community member, a family man, and a highly-regarded coach and mentor for our boys’ and girls’ basketball programs,…
Beloved Long Island Educators Killed In Bus Crash Get Posthumous Street Naming
Long Island leaders are honoring two beloved educators a year after they were killed in a bus crash.
The Town of Oyster Bay unveiled two new street signs in Farmingdale honoring late Farmingdale High School band director Gina Pellettiere and retired teacher Beatrice “Bea” Ferrari during a ceremony held Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Pellettiere, age 43, of Massapequa, and Ferrari, age 77, of Farmingdale, died when a charter bus carrying the school’s marching band to a band camp in Pennsylvania overturned on I-84 in Orange County, in the town of Wawayanda, on Sept. 21, 2023.
At least 43 people were also…
Death Of 'Ultimate Hockey Mom,' Teacher From Long Island Sparks Flood Of Support For 3 Kids
Students, colleagues, and loved ones are mourning the unexpected loss of a beloved teacher on Long Island.
Michelle Cuccias-Weidenbach, of Massapequa, died at the age of 46 on Tuesday, Oct. 1, according to her obituary.
While an official cause of death was not given, her uncle, Tommy Cuccias, said on Facebook that the special education teacher at the Baldwin School District “did not wake up on Tuesday.”
“Although there is too many to mention that are crushed by this, I can't stop thinking about her 3 beautiful children,” Cuccias said. “There is so much more to say, but too many tears righ…
